Breathing corrector



Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,694

A. F. STUKEY BREATHING CORRECTOR Filed Feb. 2, 1921 Patented Feb. 12,1924.

UNITED STTES ALBERT r. STUKEY, or nas'r noLLYwoon; CALIFORNIA.

BREAXIHING GOB/RECTOR.

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,761.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. STUKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Hollywood, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Breathing Corrector, of which the following is a specification An object of this, invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for closing the oral orificeto prevent breathing through the mouth so that respiration will be possible only through the nose in a natural way. The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple and harmless means for correcting breathing so that a person habitually addicted to respiration with open mouth can acquire the faculty of correct respiration without suffering or laborious endeavor; In other words. the mouth is closed by an inoffensive and harmless appliance that is not unsightly and also not cumbersome or disagreeable to the wearer.

To that end I provide a membrane adapted to be fitted within the mouth between the gums and lips with marginal means for straddling the membranous protrusions that are located centrally between the gums and lips. As is well known these protrusions are quite large and very tender and I provide means for protecting them from irritating contact with the breathing corrector by recessing the margin of my device.

Another object of the invention is to prevent mouth breathing for the purpose of eliminating various ailments usually attributed to improper breathing and also to prevent dryness of that organ, for as well known the mouth when continually open becomes dry so that the lips are parched, tongue cracked and gums sore, all of which invites trouble to mouth and teeth. It is sometimes contended that decay of teeth is directly caused by the enamel cracking on account of dryness; and also pyorrhea and other gum troubles are sometimes thought to be caused by an unnatural condition of the gums induced by a continual open mouth; and a diseased mouth ultimately results in diseased lungs and eventually an unnatural condition of the whole physical system.

Another object of this invention is to prevent snoring which is accomplished by damming the oral orifice so that mouth sounds are prevented.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claim.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention. Figure 1 is an illustration ofthe breath ing corrector in use. r,

Fig. 2' is a diagrammatic sectional View, on line 00 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross section,on

line 022 Fig. 2. i Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the appli-- ance, about actual size for an adult person.

Fig. 5 is a section on line, :0 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental cross sec tion, on line a, Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the resilient frame, detached.

Fig. 8 is a modified form of the appliance constructed without the resilient frame shown in Fig. 7. f l

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmental section,

on line 00 Fig. 8, showing the actual size of the modified form.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a. slightly modified form of the appliance shown 111 Fig. 4.

The breathing corrector is preferably formed with a flexible spring-wire frame 1 comprising a rubber tube 2 in which is inserted a spring wire 3, and tothe tube 2 is integrally connected a rubber membrane or dam 4.

The wire 3 is shaped to normally hold the tube 2 and attached membrane 4 in the form of an elliptical concavo-convex lens, but is of a resiliency that will permit the frame to be bent into position as shown in Figs. 2, 3, to occupy space between inner membrane of checks and lips and outer membrane of the gums without imparting an outward pressure on cheek and lips that is disagreeable to the wearer.

In order to make the appliance as comfortable as possible the frame 1 is constructed with an inward curve 5 on its upper side that forms a recess in the margin of the breathing corrector that straddles the ligamentous protrusion that is located centrally between the upper gums and the upper lip; and opposite to curve 5, wire 3 is cut away at 6 so that the soft flexible tube portion 7 bridging this gap 6 adjusts itself over the ligamentous protrusion that is located centrally between the lower gums and the lower lip to eliminate any irritation thereto, or as shown in Fig. 8, I provide both an upper I ice and lower. recess 5,5 to straddlethe'upper and lower ligamentous protrusions between.

any flexible material that is sanitary, easily cleansed and inoffensive to the wearer.

Preferably I use rubber and silk. V

In the modified forms shown in Figs. 8

and 9, the frame is constructedentirely ofrubber that is hardened sufliciently to have considerable resiliency and to this frame is vulcanized the edges of the membrane 4:. Also this frame has upper and lower curved portions 5, 5 to fit over or straddle. the ligamentous protrusion connecting theupper and lower lips and the upper and lower gums, respectively. p

AS seen by a con'iparisonof the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 9 the edge of the preferred formshownin 'Fig 5 embodying the spring-wire frame can be made much smaller than the modified form (shown in Fig. 9) and thereby affords the wearer all possible comfort.

It is understood that any form of retaining means may be employed that will serve to retain the membrane so as to prevent breathing through the mouth.

In practice the appliance may be easily inserted into place when it is desired to cor rect improper breathing.

This may be upon retir ng at night or at any other time when occasion demands.

It will be retained so securely that there acemont but r. n gers at any tegrally connected to said tube; and arein.

forcing spring wire inserted in said tube, said wire adapted to holdsaid tube and dam in'the form of an elliptical concavo-convex.

lens and said wire having a central portion thereof bent inward toward the center of the rubberda-m and arranged so that the marginal tube is held out of irritating contact with the ligamentous protrusion between the upper gums and the upper lip, and said wire having its ends spaced apart in said marginal tube opposite to the inward bent portion thereof to leave a soft portion of the marginal edge not reinforced so that the soft portion not reinforced will over-lay the ligamentous protrusion between the lower gums and the lower lip when said breathing corrector is arranged in a mouth with the inward bent portion thereof astride the upper ligamentous protrusion between the upper gums and lip; V

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this Qtth day of January, 1921.

' ALBERT r. STUKEY.

Witness I JAMES R. TOWNSEND. 

